Thailand 's reputation as a safe and peaceful destination is attracting thousands of foreigners from all over the world to learn more about almost 2,600-year-old Buddhist faith and one of its most famous practices, the art of meditation. At Wat Mahathat, the primary centre of meditation studies in Bangkok , nearly 10,000 foreigners have taken courses between 1998 and 2008, and monks are predicting steady growth in the years ahead.

           The West is becoming increasingly enamored with the ways of the East. The many students of Buddhism and meditation in Thailand range from local expatriate residents to passing visitors. Some seek to study the religion as a philosophy. Increasingly, many are studying Buddhist principles for use in business management techniques and conflict resolution. By far the vast majority, however, see Buddhist philosophy and meditation as a means of attaining good mental and physical health, personal fulfillment and satisfaction.

           Seeking inner peace is becoming a powerful global phenomenon in the face of seemingly uncontrollable external conflicts and social mayhem. The pursuit of material wealth and bodies-beautiful is widely perceived as a short-sighted and short-term objective that does little to lift the human spirit. The breakdown of family values and the ruthless competition of political and economic systems only accelerate this search. Indeed, monks and meditation instructors note that meditation is non-denominational; by seeking to enhance concentration and mind-power, the technique can be used by anyone to enhance the practice of their own religion, whatever that may be.

           Wat Mahathat, one of the few places in Thailand which keeps records of its students. Women outnumbered men by a ratio of 52:48. A total were from the United States, UK, Germany and Canada . Altogether, there were students from 45 countries, including such distant places as Ecuador , South Africa and Scotland.

           To capitalise on the trend and a growing number of inquiries, the Tourism Authority of Thailand recently produced a guidebook which lists places of Buddhist learning throughout Thailand . While many training centres are located in Bangkok , others are forest retreats. Courses range in length from just a weekend to 10 days and four weeks, depending on the level the individual wishes to attain. Students can also choose from a broad range of categories and techniques of learning meditation.

           Certainly, the process is an intrinsic part of the search for enlightenment. The students seek to get away from the competitive stress of modern life. They dress in unadorned white attire, eat simple food, abstain from alcohol, avoid exposure to the mass media, maintain as much as possible an elegant silence, clean their own living areas -- all part of the process of expunging pride, arrogance and egotism while acquiring humility, modesty and simplicity.

          
Contact information:

Mahachulalongkorn Rajvidyalaya University

World Fellowship of Buddhists

The Buddhist Information Network

International Buddhist Meditation Centre (IBMC)
Wat Mahathat Dhamma Vicaya Hall
Tha Prachan, Bangkok
Tel: +66 (0) 2623 6326, 2626 6328

 

Section Five – Wat Mahathat
Tha Prachan, Bangkok
Tel: +66 (0) 2222 6011

 

World Fellowship of Buddhists
Sukhumvit Soi 24, Bangkok
Tel: +66 (0) 2661 1284 – 9
Fax: +66 (0) 2661 0555

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